27 Jun 05. Roush’s all-new lightweight 6×6 all-terrain vehicle has been revealed. The vehicle will be seen for the first time at DVD this week. During operational trials, the vehicle has demonstrated a remarkable level of mobility and performance – plus a large payload capacity for size. The base platform has fulfilled all original concept requirements – with the result that it has immediately attracted keen interest from other potential defence customers.
The Harewood programme, as it is known within Roush, began after the company successfully won a competitive £3.5m turnkey contract to design, develop and build a new lightweight, high-mobility modular platform for the UK MoD.
The new platform features fully independent front suspension and a ‘walking beam’ rear bogey – supporting an ultra-light honeycomb aluminium chassis. Full-time 6×6 all-wheel-drive is delivered from a 1.9-litre mechanically fuelled, naturally aspirated diesel engine, via fully automatic transmission and a torque converter. The engine develops 72 brake horsepower and 125 Nm of torque to provide rugged performance under fully laden conditions.
Roush engineers have achieved a remarkable kerb weight for the base platform of just 805 kilograms – which permits a payload capacity of over 900 kilograms. The machine uses high flotation tyres to achieve low ground pressure and the 32-litre fuel tank provides very adequate range for the vehicle in standard guise.
Roush Special Vehicles Manager, Ron Davison says, “Throughout the design and development programme, we have gone to considerable lengths to retain the vehicle’s compact size, optimum payload and low EMC emissions. Alongside its other operational benefits – including heli-lift and full air portability, we have tried to keep the cargo platform design as simple as possible. The profile and centre of gravity has been kept low to offer optimum versatility for different applications and excellent stability in difficult conditions. The new platform has more than fulfilled its original design objectives – and we are confident that it offers military users a very viable option for a whole range of applications and operational requirements”.
Stands CC12 & OR52, DVD